Restaurants, bars and museums in Lisbon · Page 6

Jardim da Praça do Império

Belém

Parks & Gardens

Jardim da Praça do Império is a city garden in the Belém district of Lisbon, at Praça do Império, 1400-206 Lisboa. It fills the centre of Empire Square, a large square built for the 1940 Portuguese World Exhibition. The square commemorates the power and greatness of the old Portuguese Empire, and it is described as the largest square of the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. The 15th century Jerónimos Monastery borders the area on the north side, and the garden is a spot to relax while looking at it. The space consists of formal walkways and gardens, and it occupies what was once Belém's beachfront. Its rectangular layout is divided into interconnected quadrangles, creating passages and green areas. Converging pathways lead to an illuminated fountain at the centre, set on a square platform. A sizable fountain stands in the middle of the garden. Resting beside it, visitors can let the breeze provide a refreshing shower. Beyond the fountain, the gardens show coats of arms associated with or attributed to explorers from the Age of Discovery. Thirty floral coats of arms represent 18 Portuguese districts, archipelagos and former colonies, each adorned with the crosses of Christ and Avis. A national emblem made of boxwood and flowers can also be found. Along the southern edge, near Avenida da Índia, statues of hippocamps, meaning seahorses, overlook reflective pools. On the eastern edge of the park stands the Overseas Palace, Palácio do Ultramar, which dates back to the 1950s. In 1973 the municipal council of Lisbon added a commemorative monument to the poet Augusto Gil (1873-1929), with a bronze medallion and an inscription. The square is especially popular on Saturday mornings, when the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém often hosts weddings and photo sessions extend into the square. A visit takes about 30 minutes. Tram Line 15 serves the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos stop, and a tunnel lets you cross the road to reach the sea front. The 17th-century buildings along Rua Vieira Portuense have been converted into restaurants, most with outdoor seating, and dining value tends to improve further east along the street. Near the monastery, the café Antiga Confeitaria de Belém has served custard tarts since 1841. Nearby sights include the Centro Cultural de Belém, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the Museu de Marinha, the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, the Museu de Arte Popular and the Museu Colecao Berardo.

Venues.